About James T. Wood
Experience:
40+ years senior destination and hospitality management career as President & CEO, Vice President/Director, Sales & Marketing (five DMO’s and Marriott Hotels)
Attributes:
Integrity, Valued-based Manager, Communicator, Innovator, Collaborator, Visionary Leadership, Team Builder
2020 – 2022
President & CEO, Visit Evansville
Tasked with rebuilding and redirecting the organization during the COVID crisis, developed a ten-year Tourism and Destination Management Master Plan, enhanced the Evansville Sports Park playing surface, formed Double Play Sports as an in-house baseball and softball tournament company, expand the convention market, relocate the CVB offices and visitor center to better serve the tourism sector.
2014-2020
President & CEO, Meet AC and Chief Executive Officer, Atlantic City Sports Commission
Meet AC is Atlantic City’s Convention & Visitors Bureau which was formed in June 2014. I was selected to serve as the organizations first CEO where I established all organizational policies and operational procedures, hiring of staff, and establishing goals and objectives which we exceeded yearly. Reported to a board of seven and had an annual operating budget of $8.3MM.
Experienced significant growth in the meetings and convention segment by exceeding revenue and room night productivity annually. In 2014 our goal was 150,000 room nights. We finished 2019 booking 400,000 meeting & convention room nights.
Developed and executed sales and marketing strategies, strategic industry partnerships, business operations plus the development and execution of strategic plan
Provided visionary leadership and strategic direction for over-seeing the day-to-day operations insuring the long-term success of Meet AC
Partnered and collaborated with key tourism industry stakeholders
Launched the AC Sports Commission and the AC Film Commission in 2015
Hosted & or booked multiple industry events including: MPI-WEC 2016, TEAMS 2016 & 2021, TSNN Awards, Trade Show Executive Fastest 50 Awards, Hispanic Meeting Professionals, Esports Travel Summit, NAACP-2022 and multiple motor coach shows
2003-2014
President & CEO – Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau (Louisville Tourism)
Louisville Tourism is a quasi-state tourism agency. The CEO reports to a nine-member Commission appointed by the Mayor (6) and Governor (3). Upon my arrival the organization was falling short of achieving its annual sales goals. Fromm year two on the goals were attained.
Oversaw the annual operating budget of $15.5MM including a staff of 58 including 40 PTE
Provided visionary and collaborative leadership throughout the organization
Exceeded annual booking goals annually
Oversaw the coordinated sales activity with the Kentucky Expo Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center
Developed multiple tourism campaigns including Bourbon Country and the Urban Bourbon Trail
Coordinated the tourism region to work collaboratively on Bourbon Country Marketing
Created multiple annual events including the Jack O Lantern Spectacular, Abby Road on the River Music Festival, and the ROSE Awards where we recognized the best in the tourism industry
Served on multiple local, state, and national boards
Voted one of the best places to work in 2011, 2012 & 2013
1999 – 2003
President & CEO – Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB)
The PWCVB is governed by a fifteen-member BOD who are appointed by the Governor (5), Mayor of Providence (5), and the Mayor of Warwick (5). Upon my arrival the PWCVB was in serious financial trouble due to the previous administrations decision-making. Within a year’s time the financials were corrected.
Oversaw the annual operating budget of $2.5MM including a staff of 20 and 10 PTE
Oversaw all administrative, operating, sales, marketing and service functions of the organization
Annually achieved our team goals as established in our annual sales and marketing plan
Established effective lines of communication between political lines that had become frayed
Developed multiple successful annual events including The Jack O Lantern Spectacular, The Federal Hill Stroll and the ROSE Awards
Selected by the Providence Journal as one of the top leaders in Rhode Island for the 21st century
Recipient of the 2000 Mary Brennan Tourism and Hospitality Award
Partnered with Johnson & Wales University in visitor center management and training
1991 – 1999
Vice President Convention Sales, Marketing & Services – Tampa Bay & Company
Managing a sales and services team of fifteen (15) I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the convention sales, marketing, and services department.
Annually achieved the goals and objectives set forth in our sales and marketing plan
Reached a team high 44 booked conventions annually in the Tampa Convention Center
Hosted multiple meeting planner related industry shows
Served as Tampa Bay’s 2001 Super Bowl Bid Coordinator
Served as Tampa Bay’s 1999 Men’s NCAA Final Four Bid Coordinator
Served as Tampa Bay’s 1999 NHL All-Star Bid Coordinator
1980 – 1991
Director of Sales & Marketing – Marriott Hotels & Resorts
During my eleven (11) year employment with Marriott I was promoted and transferred to six (6) locations including: Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Orleans and Dallas
Achieved individual and team booking goals annually
Recipient of numerous individual and sales team achievement awards
Defined Marriott’s first Executive Meetings Manager position
Hired and trained over 20 new sales managers that were placed throughout the system